Now mind you, this sign had to have been built years ago since many stations are too embarrassed to advertise their gas prices now days and besides, who in the heck would build a towering sign knowing they were going to have to constantly change it? But I digress.

Gas prices are no laughing matter, but rather than crying over something  none of us can individually change at the moment, we have chosen an alternative route in our household – the route of entertainment.

Discussing whether the price of gas has changed since the last time we passed that sky-high neon sign has been a topic of conversation for some time. To combat the need to continually purchase acid reducing tablets, we’ve made a game with that sign. It is called Guess the Cost. Intelligent name don’t you think?

The good news is that this game can also be played as you haul from one cutting to another.  All you need is a willing partner and some loose change. You know about loose change; it’s that stuff you no longer take into the convenience store because it won’t buy anything. Instead, it lives either in the drink holder or seat cushions. The loose change is the prize.

Whoever guesses closest to the price of diesel AND gasoline – gotta win both of them - gets to keep the loose change on his or her side of the truck, preferably the winner’s cup holder. Since it won’t buy anything in the convenience store you don’t have to worry about theft. If both players guess the same, the change goes in the middle of the truck – you know, that little catchall compartment. That’s also where it stays if neither player guesses the fuel cost correctly.

Of course, if you are lucky enough to guess both the diesel and the gasoline price, don’t take your winnings when you get out of the truck. With the cost of gas skyrocketing, loose change is probably headed for extinction like the Edsel and crank telephones, so leave it there to play with as long as possible and as a soon-to-be-relic to show your great grandchildren.

If you really want entertainment, grab a napkin at the next fuel stop – shouldn’t be long – and figure what it’s costing to haul Nellie to a cutting.  Don’t forget to guess BEFORE you do the math. You might want to take one of those acid reducing tummy tablets first, since according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration the average cost of diesel on March 5, 2012 was $4.094 per gallon. That means a $100 dollar bill would buy you close to 25 gallons last week. If your show is very far away, you had best take a handful of those bills.

By the way, 3 years ago, March 9, 2009, the price of diesel was $2.51. That really calls for one of those acid reducing pills doesn’t it?

Not too sure why but the cutting horse world seems blessed with redneck engineers. It’s amazing what cutters can do with a piece of wire or a hunk of duck tape.

One of those rednecks lives with me, proven by our new redneck pipeline. Hey, we’re really proud of this!

Lake Nettles, as the mini lake in front of our barn was christened, shriveled up like a prune this summer. The lake is an integral working part around here – furnishing water to wet the round pen and water for washing out the barn. Before we lost the fishing poles from the back of the truck one day (think speed) it was also the backdrop for wonderful fishing memories - like the time the kids caught Brim about 3 inches long. They insisted on having them for supper.  That’s another story though.

While Lake Nettles was bone dry Redneck Ronnie, decided to enlarge it. We don’t own a bulldozer but we do own a skid steer and front loader. Ever watch an ant try to move a leaf? Few rednecks take no for an answer, though, so with little sleep and lots of lights he succeeded.

But then it didn’t rain, and what good is a lake without water?

When red neck cowboys get desperate, they find a solution. Enter our pipeline. It may not appear in “Architectural Digest,” but it solved the problem!

Years ago we built swimming “lane” for horses behind the barn – long, lean and deep. With those dimensions it never went dry, even during the drought and in fact, about 3 weeks ago when that first good rain came, it caught lots of water. Not Lake Nettles. The rain disappeared in a crowd of cracks and crevices. The swimming lane made Ronnie salivate.

Next thing I knew he was dumping a load of PVC pipe in front of the barn! Add a motor leftover from an aerobic septic system, a generator, and a line of gasoline cans to keep the generator ginning a rope swung over a limb and voila! A redneck pipeline! Yep, that’s it snaking across the road –with protective boards on each side– our very own speed bump.

That generator ran around the clock for nine days pumping water out of the swimming hole across the machine-parking area, over the road, down the slope and into Lake Nettles. Sure enough, it rose and rose and rose and sure enough, there is now water to wash out the barn and wet down the round pen.

The moral of this story? If you’ve got a problem, call me: I’ll send the redneck!  Understand up front though, we’re talking functional, not necessarily beautiful. But then, that’s what makes it redneck, isn’t it?

The late legendary horseman Don Dodge, the only cowboy to have been inducted into six Halls of Fame – that’s right; six – told me rather adamantly one New Years to make those New Year resolutions. The crusty old character, the last one whom I would have thought to make the darn things stated they are good for you. New Year’s resolutions give you goals, and life has more meaning when you are looking forward, he preached.

You know, Dodge was right about that. After thinking about it, that’s probably how he got inducted into those six Halls of Fame. Every day had meaning.

Above my desk is the quote, "Don't ever be disappointed ... good days give you happiness, bad days give you experience, and your worst days give you a lesson." Don’t know the author of that statement, but like Dodge’s quip about resolutions, it’s all about moving forward, no matter the outcome. Maybe that’s what we should call them, moving forward ideas.

So, have you made a list of your moving forward ideas yet? I’ve got a suggestion for you. Take a look at Man’s Best Friend for guidance. Heck, almost every one of us has a traveling buddy/sleeping buddy/working buddy, so you don’t have far to look. Here are their suggestions for 2012.  My favorite is No. 9, but the wisest ones are perhaps No. 8,14, and 15. What do you think? Author is unknown, but if you tape them to the inside of that trailer door, your best friend just might help you have a great 2012.

Suggestions from Man’s Best Friend for New Year’s Resolutions

1. When loved ones come home, always run to greet them.

2. Never pass up the opportunity to go for a joy ride.

3. Allow the experience of fresh air and the wind in your face to be pure Ecstasy.

4. Take naps.

5. Stretch before rising.

6. Run, romp, and play daily.

7. Thrive on attention and let people touch you.

8. Avoid biting when a simple growl will do.

9. On warm days, stop to lie on your back on the grass.

10. On hot days, drink lots of water and lie under a shady tree.

11. When you're happy, dance around and wag your entire body.

12. Delight in the simple joy of a long walk.

13. Be loyal.

14. Never pretend to be something you're not.

15. If what you want lies buried, dig until you find it.

16. When someone is having a bad day, be silent, sit close by, and nuzzle them gently.

17. Enjoy every moment of every day!